Photographic developing machine



Dec. 19, 1939.

S. HERSHBERG 7 PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 21, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 q a g fizz/4974107:

6L4 MUEL. flees/1552a 5 Si1eets-Sheet 2 U \3 ER 2 m H.

r g g/1111111116 INVENTOR SAMUEL l/E'QQYBERG- Y/& 2 Z

ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1939, s. HERSHBER G PHQTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 21, 1934 Dec. 19, 1939. s. HERSHBERG I PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 21, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1939. s, HERSHBERG 2,183,742

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 21, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 5 SHIYIUEL was/maze 2" BY ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1939. s. HERSHBERG PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 21, 1934 INVENTOR \SHMUEL HQE HBERG- I BY Q a I a a ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE Application September 21,1934, Serial No. 744,886 Renewed May 12, 1939 25 Claims. (CI. 95-90) This invention relates to a photographic developing machine forming a unit in the system of photography embodied and described in your applicants application for patent, filed in the United States Patent Office on September 15, 1934, hearing Serial Number 744,225.

The main object of this invention lies in the provision of a photographic developing machine in which all of the steps and operations, from the time an exposed sheet of sensitized material is received within the machine until the finished print is delivered by the machine, are substantially automatic..

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a developing machine whereby operating costs are reduced to a minimum owing to: saving of space by virtue of compact and cooperative ar- -rangement of the various sub-assemblies; saving in the cost of chemicals by eliminating intertank pollution in said developing machine; saving of labor costs by the substantially automatic operation of the machine, and the manipulation and transfer therethrough of the sensitized material; the production of a higher average of 25 perfect prints, the result of precise timing of the development steps and exact mechanical manipulation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of structure permitting the lightproof communication betweenlthis developing machine and a camera, capable of movement;

Still another object of this invention is the provision of structure whereby individual sheets of sensitized material are manipulated through 35 the developing machine without the use of backing-pieces or frames to reinforce the said sheets or the necessity of feeding the developing machine with long continuous strips of sensitized material.

40 These objects and otherincidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the description below and as pointed out in the appended In the accompanyingdrawings: Figure 1 is a 46 left side view in elevation of the developing machine with the side wall of the casement thereof removed showing various sub-assemblies mounted on a shelf therein aswell as means for moving, along the upper surface of the easement a 50 carriage adapted to form a lightproof entrance to the developing machine as well as furnish a means for communication with a camera which may be operated simultaneously and in conjunction with the said developing machine.

55 Figure 2 is a right side view in section, being partly in elevation, along the line 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a view in section along the line 3-4 of Figure 2, being partly broken away and showing a plan view of the developing machine. 5

l Figure 4 is a sectional view of Figure 3 along the line 4--4 thereof, showing drying mechanism, mechanism for feeding sensitized paper to a spider arm and mechanism for releasing said paper to said drying mechanism. 10

Figure 5 is a. sectional view of Figure 4 along the line 5.5 thereof and shows mechanism for feeding the sensitized paper to a spider arm.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of Figure 2 along the line 8-6 thereof and shows the mechanism for transmitting motions to the paper carrying spider mechanism.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of Figure 3 along the line 'l| thereof and shows the developing machine timing device and the heater unit switch of the drying mechanism.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of Figure 3 along the line 8-8 thereof and shows the developing machine motor switch.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of Figure 3 along the line 9--9 thereofand shows the developing machine timing device.

Figure 10 is a. sectional view partly in elevation along the line 10-49 .of Figure '7 and shows the developing machine timing device.

The framework -of the developing machine comprises a pair of longitudinal base bars 20, front vertical uprights 23, intermediate vertical uprights 24 and rear vertical uprights 25, the said vertical uprights supporting at the tops thereof the inclined upper frame members 22. Intermediate the height of the front vertical uprights 23, there is supported a horizontal shelf2l within the said frame work. Panels enclose the frame work on the front, rear and side walls, whilea 40 base plate is provided to form the flooring of the apparatus, these panels and base plate forming a casing, the remaining top opening being covered by movable light proof curtains I36 and I36. serving as anupper wall of said casing; the pan- 'els and base plates above mentioned not being shown in the drawings specifically by ,numerals.

The inclined upper frame members 22 serve as ways or tracks for carrying a camera, movable with relation to this developing machine. The camera 35! indicated by the dot dash lines on Figure 1, may beef any suitabletype adapted to discharge exposed sheets of sensitized material intov the developing machine casing, of which the right side and front and rear panels or walls are u shown, the left side panel being shown removed to better display the mechanism therein. The camera 35I penetrates and extends at the lower end thereof through a base member I33 which constitutes a movable aperture with relation to the developing machine casing or chamber, the latter being of light-proof construction. The top surface of base member I33 is cut out for the admission of the camera 35I, while the side walls of said base member depend perpendicularly from the top surface thereof and are perpendicular to each other, leaving the bottom open.

The base member is supported by four wheels I34 mounted on the inner surfaces of the longitudinal walls of said member, the bottom edges of these walls being in a plane parallel to and be-- low the plane of the inclined upper frame mem-' bers 22. Wheels I34 are provided with peripheral flanges which engage the flanged inner edges of the frame members 22 and thereby prevent transverse displacement of the base member I33 as wheels I34 ride along the inclined tracks therefor. These tracks are formed by the said inwardly projecting flanges from the upper edges of the frame members 22.

Numeral indicates a pair of longitudinal and inclined racks affixed to the inner surfaces of inclined frame members 22 at the lower edges thereof. Racks 125 are engaged by a pair of pinions 126 mounted on a transverse shaft 121 which is trunnioned at the terminals thereof in the longitudinal walls of base member I33. Pinions 126 mesh with a pair of pinions I28 carried by a shaft 129 which is disposed similarly to shaft 121. Pinions 128 mesh with smaller pinions mounted upon a shaft 13I which is trunnioned in the longitudinal walls of base member I33 and projects therethrough to have affixed to one terminal thereof a handwheel 132. It will be seen upon a reference to Figure 1 wherein one each of the pinions 126, 128 and 130, and racks 125 are shown, that revolution of handwheel 132 will cause base member I33 to ride up and down the inclined tracks upon which wheels I34 revolve. The manipulation of the base member I33 up and down the inclined track is facilitated by means of a counterweight I42, riding within an upright casing I43, the said weight being connected to the base member I33 at the rear transverse wall thereof by a chain I40, the sprocket I4I supporting said chain above the upright casing Situated between the inclined members 22 and below the inwardly projecting flanges thereof are two flexible light-proof curtains I36 and I36, the free ends of said curtains being affixed to base member I33 at the rear and front walls thereof respectively, the said curtains I36 and I36 traveling with the movements of the base member I33. Curtain I36 rides over rollers I31, and I38 and is maintained taut by spring roller I39: while curtain I36 rides over rollers I31 and I38 and is maintained taut by spring roller I39.

The camera 35I is adjusted by moving the same pivotally in a vertical plane by means of a handwheel 142, and in a horizontal plane by means of anotherhandwheel 150, mounted on an axle 15l therefor.

The developing machine is provided with a motor. 30, which is positioned rearwardly of the framework and supported on the floor thereof by a pedestal l3l, The main shaft 32 of motor 30 runs transversely of the framework and revolves at 800 revolutions per minute. Shaft 32 communicates 'witha speed reduction gear box 33 which reduces the speed to 43 R. P. M. which latter speed is transmitted by means of a longitudinal main power transmission shaft 34. The said shaft is supported along the length thereof by means of a plurality of uprights shown best in Figure 2 of. the accompanying drawings.

Disposed along the vertical central axis of the developing machine and mounted between the flooring and a bracket 50 is a central axle 48 penetrating shelf 2I. The said central axle 48 is rotatable, being mounted in its lower support bearing 39 and in its upper bearing 49, the said bearing 49 being affixed to bracket 50. The lower support bearing 39 is a part of plate 38 which latter plate is integrally attached to a high speed oscillatory cam upright support 45. Numeral 46 indicates the lower portion of upright support 45 and is provided with a transverse orifice serving to confine the reciprocating aligning pin 42, a compression spring 43 and a retaining plug 44. Opposite aligning pin 42 is a toothed wheel 40 keyed to shaft 48 by pin M and is adapted to accurately position shaft 48 at 36 degree intervals of rotation. Since reciprocating aligning pin 42 projects off spring 43, any slight variation from a 36 degree interval of toothed wheel 40 is corrected.

The central axle 48 is provided with a sleeve 53 keyed thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, the said rotation being elfectuated by the maximum upward vertical displacement of sleeve 53, the said keying permitting free vertical movement of sleeve 53 along the central axle 43. The upper limit of sleeve 53 is expanded to form flange portion 55 on which is integrated a spider hub 56. Superposing and integral with said spider hub 56 is a face gear 51, the flange portion ,55, the spider hub 56 and the face gear 51 all being provided with aligned orifices for the penetration therethrough of. the central axle 48.

When sleeve 53 is forced to its upward and vertical maximum position, a pivotal pawl 5I mounted on bearing 49 in assuming a forced horizontal' position by articulating with one of the teeth of the face gear 51, causes a 36 degree anticlockwise rotation of sleeve 53. It is this 36 degree rotation that aligning pin 42 serves to maintain and correct.

The lower limit of sleeve 53 is provided with an expanded portion to provide a lower flange 54, the under face of said lower flange 54 serving as the bearing surface for a pair of rollers H, the said rollers 1| being mounted on the forked end 69 of sleeve actuating lever 63. Sleeve actuating lever 63 is pivotally mounted at the other end thereof to a bracket 66 affixed to a frame work portion 68. The lever 63 is provided with elevating cam surface 64 and lowering cam surface 65, both of said surfaces being on the underside thereof. Cooperating with the said cam surfaces is a follower arm 14 having mounted on the outer end thereof a roller 12 riding along the cam surfaces. Follower arm 14 is keyed to a shaft 15 which latter is keyed to a worm gear 16. Said gear 16engages with a worm 11 keyed to shaft 34. Gear wheel 16 revolves at the rate of approximately one revolution every sixty seconds and in so doing brings about a vertically reciprocating motion to sleeve 63 during a ten second period .of each revolution, the first five secondsbeing lever is bifurcated to form a yoke portion 89, having inwardly projecting opposed pivots I8 upon which are mounted a pair of rollers II as referred to hereinbefore.

A constantly rotating cam I8 is in frictionalengagement with the undersurface of lever 63 at a point adjacent to the yoke portion 69 thereby causing a rapid vertically reciprocatory motion in sleeve 53. These oscillations occur at a frequency of approximately forty three per minute and are adapted tocause an agitation of solutions in the tanks containing solutions as will hereinafter be more fully described. The said cam 18- is keyed to shaft I9 which shaft is journalled in bearings I9. These bearings I9 are mounted in slots or guideways formed in the two arms of the U shaped portion 41 of the high speed oscillatory cam upright support 45, the said U shaped portion constituting the upper part of. the said upright support 45. Since the bearings I9 are capable of vertical displacement within the said guideways, they are maintained in normal position by springs I8 adjustably mounted in the bases of the said guideways. Shaft I9 at one end thereof is provided with a sprocket 95 which latter is connected by means of a chain 94 to another sprocket 84. Sprocket 84 is aflixed to one end of a short shaft which penetrates a mounting therefor 85, the said short shaft having at the other end thereof a'bevel gear 86, which latter bevel gear meshes with another bevel gear 81 keyed to shaft-34. In order to facilitate the loading and unloading of sensitized material into clips attached to spider arms as will hereinafter be described, it is necessary that the rapid vertically reciprocal motion of sleeve 53 be suspended during that period, and this suspension is accomplished by forcing cam I8 out of engagement with sleeve actuating lever 63. Resting on the projections of. shaft I9 beyond the arms of U shaped portion 41, as best shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, are two arms 88 of a lever 82, the said lever being pivoted intermediate the length thereof at pin 8 I, the opposite end of said lever 82 being provided with a mounted roller 83 thereon. Pin 8I is mounted in a U shaped extension of the upright 98, the

said upright serving also as a mounting for a' shaft 89 to which shaft 89 is keyed cam 88. Cam 88 is rotated at a speed of approximately one revolution per minute by means of the sprocket 9| which is affixed to one end of the shaft 89, said sprocket 9| being connected by a chain 92 to another sprocket 93, thelatter sprocket 93 being keyed to shaft I5 of worm gear I6. Because roller 83 is held in contact with cam 88 by'the upward pressure of springs I8, lever 82 acts as afollower for cam 88 and for a predetermined period during each complete revolution of worm gear I6 cam I8 is depressed out of contact with sleeve actuating lever 63 by the down-' ward movement of the arms 88 of lever 82.

The shaft I5 for worm gear I6 is supported by four bearing uprights 91, 91', 98 and 99, the said uprights forming vertical projections of a base plate 96. The same shaft I5 operating transversely of the main power transmission shaft 34 and deriving its rotation from the worm gear I6 thereon, as best shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, near the end opposite worm gear I8 is provided with a face cam I88 having cut in the face thereof a groove I8I, said groove being annular and. off center relative to shaft I5 sothat a pin I82 riding within the aforesaid groove and aflixed to the rear end of a rack cated by numeral I85.

bar I83 causes the said rack bar I83 to reciprocate longitudinally within a guide groove formed with grooved guide member I84. The grooved guide member I84 is aiiixed to an upright indi- The rack bar I83-is provided with a plurality of teeth I86 which mesh with a pinion I8'I keyed to the control spindle of a known cylindrical surface valve I88. Valve I88 is located in a main water supply line designated by numeral I89. From a reference to Figure 6, it will be seen that with each single revolution of transverse shaft 15 the valve I 88 will go through a cycle of opening and closing thereby allowing a definite amount of water to enter from supply pipe I89 into a connecting pipe III thence'into a circular distribution pipe H8 and thence through a plurality of discharge pipes I I8' as best shown on Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. These discharge pipes II8' serve to maintain a constant level of water in water containing finishing tanks, the latter to be hereinafter more fully described.

Mounted on transverse shaft I5 and adjacent to the face cam I88 is a keyed sprocket II2 which is connected by means of chain II3 to a sprocket I I4, the said sprocket I I4 being keyed to a known cylindrical surface valve II5, as best shown in Figure 3. The said valve H5 is of a quadruple type simultaneously controlling four distinct chemical solution supply pipes H1, 8', I I9 and having an outer wall I22 and an inner wall I23 having a segment removed at the front thereof as best seen in .Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. The said trough I2I is provided with a drain opening I2I" communicating with a drain pipe I 2| which latter serves to carry off liquids which have overfiown from finishing tanks to be hereinafter described. Set in the floor of the annular trough I2I are a plurality but preferably nine finishing tanks radially disposed thereon as best seen in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. Normally the tanks are relatively positioned so that the sensitized material in progressing through the development process is immersed in all nine tanks consecutively commencing with tank I24 containing developer, tank I25 containing water, tank I26 containing the bleaching solution, tank I2I containing water, tank I28 containing clearing solution, tank I29 containing water, tank I38 containing the redeveloping solution, tank I3I containing water, and tank I 32 containing water or a suitable hardening solution for hardening the emulsion on the print to avoid the peeling thereof when transferred to the drying mechanism, then pipe II8 to tank I32 is closed.

Referring back to discharge pipes II 8', it is now seen how tanks I25, I21, I29, I3I and I32 maintain a constant level therein by the water supply pipes functioning during the operation of the mechanism and the draining of overflow water by pipe I2I.

Positioned above the main driving motor 38 I28 and I30 respectively. The quadruple type of valve I I5 is capable of adjustment so that the rate of flow therethrough of the various solutions may be synchronized with the amount of evaporation, chemical and physical consumption and sloppage. Since the control of valves I08 and I I5 is derived from the motion of the main power transmission shaft 34, a timing mechanism to be hereinafter described cuts off thesupply of current to the driving motor 30 at a time when the valves I08 and I I5 are in a closed position thereby preventing waste of water and chemical solutions automatically when the developing unit is not in operation.

The spider hub 56, as has been before described, is provided with a plurality of arms, but preferably I 0 as is shown in Figure 3, the said arms being designated by numeral 60, being radially disposed and each being provided with a clip for holding the sensitized material, the said clip being designated by numeral 58.

Now will be described the mechanism for feeding the previously exposed sensitized paper from the entrance therefor to clips 58 just above mentioned. I45 represents a conveyer being either gravity acting or driven, but in the present embodiment of the invention, the conveyer is represented as being a long trough substantially U- shaped in cross-section and being mounted by hangers I44 and I44, said hangers depending from inclined upper frame member 22, the said conveyer I45 being parallel to the said upper frame member 22. The purpose of the conveyer is to receive a sheet of previously exposed sensitlzed material, which has been cut and dropped on to the said conveyer by the camera unit. The sensitized material is mounted in the form of a roll in the camera unit, and the cutting results in the production of a definite and uniform size of sheet of sensitized material, the size being adapted to the proportions of the camera and developing units.

Plates 26 and 21, situated in the central and forward portion of the developing unit constitute the frame work' for the feeding and control mechanism or assembly which transports the previously exposed sensitized material from conveyer I45 to one of the clips 58, the said assembly being best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. Numeral I46 represents a continuous belt forming a flat conveying surface and being supported at one end by a driven roller I41 and on the other end by a driving roller 148, the said rollers I41 and I48 being supported respectively by bearings depending from plate 21, the said bearings not being numerically designated in figures of the drawings. Driving roller I48 derives its motion from main driving shaft 34 by means of a sprocket I40 on an extension of the driving roller I48, the said sprocket I49 being connected to sprocket I5I on the end of the main driving shaft 34 by means of sprocket chain I50. Depending from the upper plate 26 are two spaced vertical guideway plates I54 and I55, the latter guideway plate I55 being curved toward plate I54 to form a mouth opening in which is mounted a vertical driving roller I64. 'Frictionally engaging driving roller I 64 is another roller I61, the last two rollers cooperating to draw between them in. the direction indicated by the arrows on Figure 5 the sensitized material. Since the sensitized material comes from a roll in the camera unit, the curl of each sheet is taken advantage of so that the sensitized material up until the time it enters between rollers I64 and I61 is handled as a resilient semi-cylinder. Thus, when the sensitized material is discharged from the conveyer I45 upon moving belt I46, it alights on the base of the semi-cylinder rather than on the side thereof maintaining a vertical position thereby entering rollers I64 and I61 edgewise. The sensitized material having been drawn between rollers I64 and I61 now enters a semi-circular guideway formed by two curved plates, I56 and I51 and thence between a second pair of rollers I10 and I13; thence into a straight guide-way formed by flatwalled plates I58 and I59. From the said straight guide-way, the sensitized material is drawn between a third set of rollers I15 and 28 and then deposited within the guide-way chamber formed by flat-walled plates I60, I6I and I62 where it comes to rest. The sensitized material up to this point in its travel has been in constant motion owing to the fact that the intervals between the sets of rollers I64, I61, I10, I13, I15, 28 have all been less than the length of the sheet of sensitized material. The interval between the pair of rollers I15, 28 and the pair of rollers I88, I85 is longer than the length of the sheet of sensitized material so that the said sheet comes to rest within the chamber I60, I6I and I62 because of the fact that it ceases to be propelled by contact with any moving rollers. Numeral 205 is a driving roller rotating in a direction indicated by the arrow thereat and adapted to project within the chamber I60, I 6| and I62 to contact with the sensitized material resting therein and thereby to move the. said sensitized material toward a pair of rollers I88, I85. The said rollers I88, I85 having engaged the sheet of sensitized material serve to continue the movement of the material into the open jaws of one of the clips 58, which latter has been positioned directly opposite and outside of the line of contact of rollers I88, I85, the synchronous positioning of the clip opposite the pair of rollers I88, I85 and the synchronous positioning of the roller 205 against the sensitized material being controlled by mechanism to be described below. Sets or pairs of rollers I64--I61, I10I13, I1528 and I88I85 together with single roller 205 derive their motion interrelationally. The said four sets of rollers are mounted on spindles journalled between plates 26 and 21, the said spindles being suitably spaced from each other. Roller I 64 is mounted upon spindle I65, said spindle projecting upwardly through plate 26 and having affixed to the said projection a pinion I66 and immediately thereabove a sprocket I66. Roller I 61 is mounted upon spindle I68 and is provided with a similar projection having affixed thereon a pinion I69 and immediately thereabove a sprocket I69. Pinions I66 and I69 mesh with each other. Sprocket I69 is connected by means of sprocket chain I12 to sprocket I12, said sprocket being aflixed to the upper end of spindle I1I upon which is mounted the roller I10. Roller I13 is driven by contact with roller I-10 so that the spindle I14 upon which roller I13 is mounted terminates at the upper end thereof flush with upper plate 26.

Sprocket I66 is connected by means of chain I80 to sprocket I19, said sprocket being affixed to the upper end of spindle 29, said spindle having mounted thereupon the roller 28. Aflixed to spindle 29 immediately above upper plate 26 is a sprocket I11 which is connected by means of chain 2I6 to sprocket I8I which in turn is affixed to the upper end of vertical shaft I82.

Shaft I82 is journalled at the upper end thereof in an orifice in upper plate 26 and at the lower end in an inverted L-shaped upright support I82, the latter being an extension of the foremost bearing support; of main driving shaft 34, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Aiilxed to vertical shaft I82 at the lower end thereof and below support I82 is a bevel gear I83 which meshes with a bevel gear I84, said latter bevel gear being keyed to the main driving shaft 34. Aflixed to shaft 29 between sprocket I19 and sprocket I11 is a sprocket I18 which is connected by means of a chain I96 to a sprocket I95. Sprocket I95 is afflxed to a spindle I92, the said spindle being journalled in orifices in upper and lower plates 26 and 21, the upper projection of the said spindle having mounted thereon and against the upper face of upper plate 26 a pinion I91, said pinion being positioned directly below sprocket I95.- Above sprocket I95 and affixed to spindle I92 is a sprocket I93 which is connected by chain I94 to sprocket I81, the said sprocket I81 being affixed to spindle I86 at a point above upper plate 26, the said spindle serving as a mounting for roller I85. Opposite pinion I91 and meshing therewith is a pinion I98, said pinion I98 being aflixed to a spindle 288, said spindle 288 being free to revolve within a sleeve member 288. The sleeve member 288' is jour-- nalled between plates 26 and 21 and projects therethrough. Extending off the sleeve member 288'are two parallel arms, the upper arm being designated by numeral 286 and the lower arm by numeral 286'. The said arms 286 and 286' with the sleeve member 288' form a clevis for the journalling of spindle 284, the said spindle 284 penetrating upper and lower plates 26 and 21 through slots therein. Afiixed to the projecting upper end of spindle 284 isa sprocket which is connected to another sprocket 28I by means of a chain 282, the sprocket first mentionedbeing designated by numeral 283. Sprocket 28I is aflixed to the upper end of spindle 288. Spindle 284 mounted in the above mentioned clevis has therearound a roller 285. Since the sleeve member 288' is free to rotate within the bearings afforded by the perforations in plates 26 and 21, and since the spindle 288 therein is free to rotate, the clevis assembly is capable of .being moved through a small are without interfering with the constant rotation of roller 285 and the assembly comprising spindle 284, sprocket 283, chain 282, sprocket 28I, spindle 288 and pinion I98. Upper arm 286 is provided with a perforated extension in which is anchoredcontractile spring 281, the said spring being affixed to upper plate 26 as indicated by numeral 288 in Figure 3. The tension of spring acts as a follower therefor.

281 pulls the clevis assembly and with it roller 285 so that the said roller enters the chamber the opening between plates I6I and I62 by lever- 289', one end of lever 289 bearing against upper clevis arm 286, the other end bearing against another lever 218, the lever 289 beingpivoted intermediate the length thereof on a short stud projecting from upper plate 26. Lever 2I8 is pivoted intermediate the length thereof on a similar stud projecting from upper plate 26. The power arm of lever 2I8 resting against a cam 2 With rotation of plate cam 2, the follower arm of lever 2I8 will momentarily fall in the depression in the 'periphery of said cam, the depression being designated by numeral 2 l2, thereby allowing the clevis assembly to be operated by spring 281' and causing roller 285 to project into the opening between plates I6I and I62.

Numeral 2I8 designates a small flat shoe projecting through an orifice therefor in upper plate 26, the said shoe being maintained in frictional contact with the upper edges of sheets of sensitized material which have come to rest within the chamber I68, I6I, I62. Shoe 2I8 is aflixed at its forward end to an end of spindle 2", while at the other end of the said spindle is a short vertical arm 2I9 aiiixed thereto. The spindle 2| 1 is mounted transversely above and parallel with upper plate 26 by bracket 228. The upper end of vertical arm 2I9 is orificed to anchor a con- .material are removed fromv the chamber formed by plates I 68, I6I and I 62, it being understood at this time that the said plates in conjunction with upper and lower plates 26 and 21 constitute the chamber proper, there will occur within the aforementioned chamber a vertical stacking of the sheets of the exposed sensitized'material across the width of said chamber. Owing to the fact that the camera unit deposits the sensitized sheets of material in the form of a resilient semi-' cylinder as has been before mentioned with the convex surfaces thereof resting on the conveyor I45, the said sheets of sensitized material after passing through the sets of. rollers I6I-I61, I18I13, and I1528 superpose themselves in chamber I68, I6I and I62 with the unsensitized faces thereof facing the roller 285.

The frictional engagement of shoe 2I8 with the upper edges of the stacked sheets aforementioned retains the said sheets in chamber I68, I6I and I62 so that roller 285 when in operative position or in the opening between plates I6I and I62 advances only the outermost sheet to a position of engagement between rollers I88 and I85. It will be noted at this point that roller I88 is driven solely by its frictional engagement with roller I85. Roller I88 is mounted upon spindle I 89, said spindle projecting beyond upper and lower plates 26 and 21 through slotted guideways in the said plates, the said slotted guideways being provided with similarly slotted journal plates I98, the latter resting fixedly above and below the slotted guideways in plates 26 and 21, respectively. Maintained within the slotted portion of each of the journal plates I98 is an expansive spring I9I pressing against a,bearing'carrying one end of the spindle I89. The pressure exerted by springs I9I is lateral, thereby forcing-roller I88 in resilient contact with roller I85. Roller I15 is mounted upon a spindle I 16 which is'iournalled in orifices in plates 26 and 21 and is not re-, siliently mounted. Likewise mounted as is roller I15 is roller I13 onspindle I14. a

Now will be described the mechanism for grip ping and releasing the sheets .of sensitized material within the clips 58, the latter depending from spider arm 68 near the endsthereof. The clips are of the type known to this art and comprise a fixed lug 6I rigidly attached'to the arm 68 and an operating lug 62 spaced therefrom so that the application of pressure on.lug 62 toward lug BI serves to open the two jaws of clip 58, while upon the release of the said pressure the jaw members of the clip close and thereby grip the upper longitudinal edge of a sheet of sensitized material. Extending from the rear edge of upper plate 26 and afiixed thereto is a longitudinally extending arm 223 curved near the free end thereof so that the end of said arm 223 serves as a support for arm 60 when clip 58 is opened, by the forward pressure of lever arm 221. Adapted to bear against lug 62 is a lever pivoted on a short s'tud 225, said stud being affixed and projecting upwardly from upper plate 26. The said lever comprises a load arm 22'! and a power arm 224, the latter arm terminating in a mounted roller 226, the said roller being adapted to cooperate with plate cam 35, the said cam being affixed to the upper end of a shaft 2I3 at a point directly above vcam 2II which latter is likewise affixed to shaft 2I3. The cams 35 and 2 are both positioned above upper plate 26. Shaft 2 I 3 is vertically disposed and is journalled near the upper end thereof in an orifice in upper plate 26, said shaft intermediate the length thereof being journalled in a horizontal support member 25 I while at the lower end the said shaft is journalled in an upright support 36. Afiixed to shaft 2I3 near the lower end thereof is a worm gear 2M meshing with a worm 2 I5 on main driving shaft 34. Identical to the ratio existing between worm gear I6 and worm TI is the ratio existing between worm gear 2M and worm 2I5, the said ratio being 40 to 1. It will therefore be seen that synchronization will take place between the arms 69 in the positioning thereof and the opening and closing of the clip 58 and the ejecting of a sheet of sensitized material from the sensitized material feeding mechanism into the clip 58, since all of these operations de rive the power and timing therefor from the two worms on shaft 34.

The sequence of the clip loading operation is as follows. One of the arms 60 carrying the clip 58 comes to an intermittent rest directly opposite the sensitized material ejecting rollers I88 and I85; the movement of plate cam 35 causes load arm 22'! to bear against clip operating lug 62 thereby opening the jaw members of the said clip; while the jaw members of the said clip are re tained in their open position, cam 2I I through its related mechanism allows a momentary contactbetween roller 205 and a sheet of sensitized material thereby forcing the same in contact with the rollers I88 and IE5, which latter in turn eject the said sensitized material between the open jaws of clip 58. Directly below the jaws of clip 58 is a deep narrow trough or guideway U-shaped in cross-section and supported by a horizontal plate member number 31, the said trough being formed by side walls 229 and 230 being joined together at the base thereof. Extending from the upper longitudinal edge of wall 230 is an acutely diverging plate 23I as best seen in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. The said trough serves to maintain the sheet of sensitized material which has been deposited therein in proper posi tion for the gripping of the upper edge thereof by the jaw members of clip 58. The jaw members of clip 58 are allowed to close by the removal of pressure from operatinglug 62 caused by the withdrawal of arm 221, the latter withdrawal being effected by the further rotation of cam 35. Although the rotation of spider hub 56 and the extending arms 60 is counter-clockwise, the rotation thereof is not hindered by the projecting arm 223 because rotation occurs when the spider hub 56 is in an elevated plane thereabove, the said hub dropping down for the loading operation with one of the arms 68 thereon resting to one side of arm 223. In the loading position, the manipulations of loading occur immediately after the high speed oscillatory cam 18 has ceased to contact the lever 63 for agitation purposes.

After a sheet of sensitized material has been gripped by jaws of the clip 58, sleeve 53 is raised, thereby carrying with it clip 58. When the spider hub 56 reaches its uppermost position, it is given a 36 degree counter-clockwise rotation, as has before been stated. After the 36 degree movement has been completed, the clip 58 carrying a sheet of sensitized material will be positioned over tank I24 containing the developing solution. Spider hub 56 is now automatically lowered owing to the cooperation of follower arm 14 and cam surface 65, the said lowering resulting in the immersion of the already mentioned sheet of sensitized material within the tank I24. After the said sheet has been immersed, cam 18 is allowed to contact lever 63 for agitation purposes, said agitation continuing for approximately 45 seconds. For the next ensuing 5 seconds approximately, the print remains stationary in tank I24 and during such period of time a clip 53 on an arm 68 is being loaded opposite the feeding mechanism. Thereafter the aforesaid raising and lowering of sleeve 53 is repeated consuming approximately 10 seconds. The process is then repeated in a counter-clockwise direction, the sheet being consecutively rotated for immersion and immersed in tanks I25, I26, I21, I28, I29, I30, I3I, and I32. It will be seen by reference to Figure 3 that each of the clips 58 on the arms 60 is capable of carrying a separate sheet of sensitized material and each of the said sheets will be in a different stage of development at any given time. After a sheet of sensitized material has been immersed in the last tank of the series, namely, tank I32, it is moved to a position opposite the feeding mechanism but in a plane above the mouth of the trough having side walls 229 and 230 as best seen on Figure 4. As the sleeve member 53 is lowered at this point of time, the sheet of sensitized material being thereby lowered, the lower longitudinal edge of said sensitized sheet strikes against two flat downwardly curled resilient guides 228. The said guides are fixed to the upper portion of wall 229 and extend upwardly therefrom. In striking against said guides 228, the sheet of sensitized material is defiected so that the same slides downwardly on the aforementioned acutely diverging plate 23I. It will be noted at this point that clip 58 in its lowermost position has forced or compressed guides 228 to one side so that the jaws of clip 58 may descend within the upper longitudinal mouth of the trough of Walls 229 and 238. The guides 228 compressed as above described are shown in Figure 4. It will now be seen that when the jaws of clip 58 are separated by the feeding and clip loading mechanism as has been described hereinbefore, the paper held by said clip and already developed is discharged along diverging plate 23I. Sufficient time is provided by the synchronization of the feeding and loading mechanism so that there is a sufficient interval between the opening of the jaws of clip 58 and the instant when an undeveloped sheet of sensitized material is ejected into the trough of walls 229 and 230 for the discharge of a previously developed sheet of sensitized material.

A developed sheet of sensitized material having been released along diverging plate 23l is now ready to go through the process of dryingafter which the said material discharges from the developing unit as a finished print. The drying structure is mounted in the developing unit within two spaced, vertical and trans verse plate members 38 and 39, the said plate members being integral andprojecting upwardly from a base plate 38' resting on the floor of the main frame work. These plates 38 and 39 are irregular in shape and extend upwardly to a point just below shelf 2| and inwardly toward the iongitudinal axis to a point just beyond shaft 34. At the intersection of the vertical inner edge and the upper horizontal edge of plates 38 and 39, are two diagonally projecting arms 39', said arms being joined by and serving as a support for a horizontal plate 31, said plate 31 in turn serving as a support for the trough 229, 230. Numeral 232 is a roller mounted upon a spindle 233, said spindle being journalled in orifices in arms 39' and situated directly below acutely diverging plate 23l. The forward end of spindle 233 projects beyond the anm 39 and has affixed thereto a sprocket 234 which is connected by chain 235 to a sprocket 236 as best seen on Figure 2. A roller 252 is mounted upon a spindle 231, the said spindle being situated atv the base of the arms 39' and being journalled in orifices of transverse plate members 38 and 39. The forward end of spindle 231 projects beyond plate member 39 and has afiixed thereto the aforesaid sprocket 236. The rear end of spindle 231 projects beyond plate 38 and has affixed thereto a collar 238 and a sprocket 238, the said sprocket 238 being connected by chain 239 to a sprocket 240 which is keyed to main-power transmission shaft 34. The ratio existing between sprocket 238 and sprocket 240 is four to one. Numeral 24l designates a roller mounted upon a spindle, the said spindle being trunnioned in bearings mounted in the upper ends of two juxtaposed levers 242. The said levers 242 are pivotally mounted upon a spindle 243 intermediate the height thereof. The spindle 243 is journalled in orifices in the arms 39' projecting therethrough and it is to these projections that the levers 242 are aflixed outside of the arms 39 as best seen in Figure 4. Affi'xed to a point on levers 242 are contractile springs 249, the said springs being anchored to plates 38 and 39 at a point proximate to the said levers 242. Springs 248 bytheir contraction are adapted to force a pair of rollers 244 which are mounted on the lower ends of levers 242 in contact with plate cams'245, the said cams being affixed to a-horizontal and longitudinal shaft 246 at points immediately forward of plate 39 and immediately rearward of plate 38. The said shaft 245 extends beyond that forward cam 245 and penetrates an orifice in horizontal support member 25I in a depending flange therefrom, the said shaft 246 terminating in a bevel gear 241 affixed thereto. Bevel gear 241 meshes with a bevel gear 243, the latter being keyed to the vertical shaft 2 l3 at a point immediately below horizontal support member 25l. Numerals 254 and 255 designate rollers mounted on spindles, the latter being trunnioned in brackets, the said rollers being positioned above circular trough |2l and adjacent a side panel of the developing unit frame work as best seen in Figure 4, the brackets above mentioned not being shown in the drawing. 256 is a roller mounted on a spindle, the said spindle being trunnioned in orifices at the upper por- -ti ons ,of the outer edges ofplate-members 3,8 and 'dinal shaft 332.

39. 253 represents a flat belt which is in contact with and driven by roller 252, the said belt 253 passing over rollers 254 and 255 and under roller 256, rollers 254, 255 and 256'serving as idlers and also for changing the direction of travel of the aforementioned belt 232 extending off the outer face of a side panel of the frame work of the developing unit and opposite roller 255. Receptacle 26l is adapted to receive dried prints from belt 253 as it passes over roller 254 through an opening in the side panel. Numeral 251 designates a casing for the heating element 258, the latter being positioned within the casing by insulating material 259. Casing 251 is substantially L-shaped and is supported at the upper end thereof immediately above the roller 254, the said casing 251 being provided with a depressed portion 260 so that the same does not interfere with outer wall I22 of trough I2I.

It will now be seen that a developed sheet of sensitized material in passing from acutely diverging plate 23! will come in contact with roller 232, the said roller revolving at approximately eleven revolutions .per minute. At this time, owing to the synchronization of lever arms 242 through cams 245 by wayof shaft 2l3 with the arm 221 roller 24! will be brought into contact with roller 232, the wet print or sheet of sensitized material thereby being drawn downwardly therebetween. The cooperation 'of rollers 232 and 24! serves to wring out excess water from the sheet of is aflixed to the inner surfaces of the arms 39 at rollers 232 and 252 and directly above spindle 243. In addition to the wringing performed by rollers 232 and 24!, this same pair of rollers at the same time feeds the wrung sensitized material onto the moving belt 253, the said belt traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4. Belt 253 carries the sensitized material along with it in proximity with the heated casing'257 at the lower surface thereof to the point of ejection at roller 254 as before described.

In order that the heat generated by the heating element 258 and in order that the entire developing unit shall continue to function until all of the separate sheets of sensitized material that have been deposited upon conveyer I45 are completely finished and ejected intoreceptacle 26l, the developing unit is provided with a timing mechanism located on intermediate shelf 2| forwardly thereof and to one side of the feeding mechanism to clips 58.

Afiixed to vertical shaft 2 l3 directly above horizontal support member 25I is a bevel gear 334 meshing with another bevel gear 333, the latter being affixed to the rear end of a short longitu- Shaft 332 penetrates near its rear end an upwardly extending flange of horizontal support member 25! and penetrates near the forward end thereof a support 52 depending from the lower surface of plate 21. Aflixed to the forward end of shaft 332 is a sprocket 33l connectedby a chain 338 to a sprocket 329', the said latter sprocket being afilxedto the forward end of a short longitudinal shaft 3| 9. Shaft 3| 9 is trunnioned at the rear end thereof in an upright support member 320, the said support 320 being aflixed to and projecting upwardly from the timing unit base plate 263, the latter being supported by intermediate shelf 2|. Shaft 3|9 is supported near the forward end thereofby an upright support member 32!, said support being similarly mounted as support 320. Aflixed to shaft 3|9 and behind support 32! is a plate cam 322. Numeral 324 designates a mercury switch connected in series with the electrical heating element 258 of the drying mechanism, said switch being mounted upon a forwardly projecting trunnion 325, the said trunnion being mounted in an upward extension of upright support member 32!. Switch 324 is provided with a short stud projecting from the front face thereof, the stud being designated by numeral 323, the said stud resting upon plate cam 322. Numeral 321 designates a small contractile spring which is connected to the lower edge of switch 324 through an eye 326, the other end of said spring being anchored near the bottom of upright 32! by screw 328. Afiixed to shaft 3l9 and near the rear end thereof is a plate cam 3!8, the said cam being in frictional engagement with a roller 3!1 which acts as a follower therefor. Roller 3!1 is trunnioned in the lower end of power arm 3!6 which, together with load arm 3l3, constitutes a lever pivoted intermediate the length thereof on a stud 3!4 projecting from an upright 3! 5. Numeral 3! designates a link being pivotally connected to the upper end of load arm 3!3 by means of a short machine screw 3I2 and being similarly connected to the upper end of a radial arm 301 by the machine screw 308, the said radial arm 301 being rotatable and unkeyed about shaft 266. Pivoted by means of a screw 303 and proximate the upper end of radial arm 301 is a pawl 302 the operative tooth thereof being forced into engagement with peripheral ratchet teeth 294 of a disc member 293 by the contraction of a small contractile spring 305 which latter is aflixed to an upwardly extending projection 304 of pawl 302 and anchored immediately below machine screw 308 on radial arm 301 at a point indicated by the numeral 306.

To one side of disc 293 and in the same vertical plane is an upright support member 30!. projecting from plate 263. At the upper end of the said upright 30! is a small orifice 3 0 serving to anchor one end of a contractile spring 309, the other end of said spring being affixed to the upper end of radial arm 301. Spring 309 serves by means of link member 3! and lever 3 !3-3! 6 to force roller 3!1 into frictional engagement with plate cam 3!8. Numeral 296 indicates an operative tooth of a pawl member pivotally mounted near the lower end of upright 30! by means of a machine screw 291, the said operative tooth being held in engagement with the ratchet teeth 294 through the contraction of contractile spring 299, the said sprin being affixed by hooking into an orifice 298 in the lower end of pawl arm 296 at one end thereof and at the other end being anchored to the lower end of upright 30! by means of screw 300.

The disc member 293 rotates about but is not keyed to a shaft 266, the said shaft being aflixed at the forward end thereof in the upper end of a vertical upright 264, the latter extending from plate 263, while the said shaft is similarly affixed at the rear end to upright 264. Perpendicularly and rearwardly projecting from disc 293 and concentrically disposed proximate the edge thereof is a plurality of pins 295. Adjacent the rear face of disc member 293 and spaced therefrom is a spiral spring 216 concentric with shaft 266, the said spring being aflixed at the inner end to shaft 266 by a machine screw 211, while at the outer end thereof the said spring is affixed to a short stud 215. Stud 215 is affixed to the front face of an annular plate 26'! adjacent the edge thereof. Annular plate 261 forms a portion of a sleeve member for shaft 266, the said sleeve member being spaced from the rear face of disc 293 to permit the position of spiral spring 216 therebetween as best seen in Figure 10. The sleeve member comprises an annular plate portion 261, a reduced spiral cam surface portion 214 having a rearwardly projecting lug 213, a sleeve portion proper 268 having two spaced expanded collars thereon 269 and 210 forming an annular channel 21! therebetween. The sleeve member is adapted to reciprocate along the shaft 266, the said reciprocation being caused by the movement of a bifurcated control arm 336, the latter being pivotally mounted by the penetration therethrough of screw 331 fixed in the upper end of a short upright 338 projecting from plate 263 as shown in Figure 8. Control arm 336 at the bifurcated portion 335 engages with channel 21! of the sleeve member thereby causing the sleeve to reciprocate therewith. Numeral 212 designates an expansive and helical spring concentric with shaft 266 and intermediate collar 210 and upright 264.

Numeral 28! designates an upright projecting from plate 213 and having a curved arm 283 extending therefrom. Numeral 218 represents a mercury switch in series with the circuit of motor 30 and is pivotally mounted by a pin 280 journalled in the upper end of upright 28!. From the front face of switch 218 is a forwardly projecting lug 219, the said lug' being adapted to bear against and act as a follower for the cam 214. Projecting rearwardly from a lateral extension of the front face of switch 218 is a short stud 285 adapted to cooperate with a pivotal lever 284 having at the top thereof a latching recess for the said stud. Lever 284 is pivotally mounted to the outer extremity of arm 283 by screw 286. Projecting forwardly and perpendicularly from the lower end of lever 284 is a stud 281 adapted to be struck by the lug 213 extending off the cam surface portion 214 of the sleeve member for shaft 266. 29! represents a stud projecting forwardly and perpendicularly from the front face of annular plate 261 being intermediate stud 215 and the edge of plate 261, the said stud 29! being adapted to engage within the interstices of pins 295 when the sleeve portion 268 is in its forward reciprocated position. Stud 29! is also adapted to strike against an upright lug 292 which forms a stop therefor thereby controlling the rotation of sleeve 268. Upright lug 292 projects from plate 263.

343 represents a solenoidal magnet having an armature 342 adapted to be drawn therein when the solenoid is energized. The armature 342 is pivotally attached at the forward end thereof by means of a machine screw 34! to the rear end of a link 340, the said link being pivotally attached to lever 336 by penetrating a slot therein and turning about machine screw 339 as best seen in Figure 8. 288 is a contractile helical spring being affixed to the lower arm of lever 284 at orifice 289 and being anchored to the upper surface of lever 336 by a machine screw 290.

Now will be described the operation of the timing device. Since shaft 2l3 revolves at the rate of approximately one R. P. M. by virtue of uniformed ratio gearing, shaft 3l9 in turn revolves at approximately one R. P. M. The cam 3!8 through lever 3!33!6, link 3!!, arm 301 and pawl 302 causes disc 293 to rotate one thirtieth of a revolution in the direction of the arrow on Figure '7 approximately every sixty seconds. The consecutive and intermittent rotational positioning of disc 293 is maintained by the pawl tooth 296 engaging with teeth 294 thereby serving as a pawl and ratchet arrangement. Sleeve member 268 being free to rotate about fixed shaft 266 because of its connection with spring 216 tends to revolve in a counter direction to disc 293. Spring 212 forces the sleeve member 268 forward along shaft 266 so that lug 29! engages disc 293 between two adjacent pins 295. The cam surface 214 is so arranged on sleeve member 268 that the said cam surface elevates lug 219 and motor switch 218 therewith to the on position of the said switch when the lug 29! strikes against the stop. 292. It will now be seen that when solenoid 343 is energized, the latter taking place simultaneously with the depositing of an exposed print on conveyor I45, armature 342 and link 348 will cause lever 336 to move rearwardly thereby causing a rearward movement of sleeve 268 and a consequent compression of spring 212 and also the disengagement of lug 29! from disc 293. The rotation movement of sleeve 268, now being unrestricted since lug 29! is out of mesh with pins 295, the unwinding of spring 216 causes cam 214 to elevate switch 218 to its "on" position as just above described. When switch 218 is elevated to its horizontal on position, pin 285 latches with lever 284 serving to maintain the switch in its horizontal on position. The electrical circuit to the motor 39 now being closed, the entire developing unit commences .to function, shaft 3!!! rotating as a part of the developing unit. Since the solenoid 343 is energized for only a few seconds, simultaneous with the dropping of an exposed sheet of sensitized material on conveyor I45,

when said solenoid 343 is deenergized. armature 342 and, link 34!! move forward owing to the pressure exerted by expansive spring 212 thereby moving sleeve 268 forward so that lug 29! engages disc 293.

Shaft 3!9 in rotating causes cam 322,to intermittently elevate drier switch 324 to its horizontal on position, the intermittent on and off periods of switch 324 being for approximately thirty second intervals The shaft 3l9 in rotating also causes disc 293 to rotate by means of cam 3!!! as above set forth, the said disc 293 being now engaged with sleeve 268 because of the deenergization of the solenoid 343. By such en gagement disc 293 there y rotates sleeve 268 so that lug 213 will aft approximately fifteen 'minutes (one-half revolution of sleeve 268) strike pin 281 thereby disengaging the latching lever 284 from pin 285.- Said disengagement allows the contraction of spring 282 to pull motor switch 218 to its inclined off position with lug 219 resting upon the lowermost surface of cam 214. It is now to be noted that at this position of lug 213, at the time of striking pin 261, valves !!5 and !88 are in their closed position as before described, and cam 322 is in such position that switch 324 is in its off position. Now it can be seen that with each energization of solenoid 343, the entire cycle above described isrepeated so that regardless of the number of consecutive exposures deposited on conveyor I45 or the frequency of the exposures. the developing unit will continue to run for a period of approximately fifteen minutes from the last exposure.

I claim;

1. In an automatic developing and finishing machine forexposed sensitized material, a casp a movable aperture, feeding means to carry said sheets to a predetermined position.

4. In an automatic developing and finishing machine for exposed sensitized material, a casing therefor having front, side, rear and bottom walls, an upper inclined wall having a movable aperture for the receipt of exposed sheets of sensitized material, an inclined feeder stationary with relation to and below the path of travel of the said movable aperture and continuous with the path of travel of the said movable aperture to carry said sheets to a predetermined position.

5. In combination with a movable camera, a casing for a developing and finishing machine, the said casing having front, side, rear and bottom walls, an upper wall having a light-proof and movable aperture for the receipt of exposed sheets of sensitized material from the said movable camera, a feeder to carry said sheets to a predetermined location, said feeder being stationary with relation to and continuous with the pathof travel of the said movable aperture.

6. In combination with. a movable camera, a I

casing for a developing and finishing machine, the said casing having front, side, rear and bottom walls, movable means of light-proof com-.

munication between said movable camera and.

said casing, a feeder stationary with relation to the path of travel of said movable means and adapted to receive exposed sheets from the said camera in any displaced position thereof and to advance the said sheets to the developing apparatus. 7

'7. In combination with a movable camera, a casing for a developing and finishing machine, supporting means on said casing for the said camera, means of light-proof communication between said movable camera and said casing, a feeder adapted to receive exposed sheets from the said camera in any displaced position thereof and to advance the said sheets to the developing apparatus.

8. In combination with a movable camera, a L

casing for a developing and finishing machine, tracks for said camera supported by said casing, means of light-proof communication between said movable camera and said casing, a feeder adapted to receive exposed sheets from the said camera in any displaced position thereof and to advance the said sheets to the developing apparatus.

9. In combination with a movable camera, a casing for a developing and finishing machine, inclined tracks for said camera supported by said casing, means of light-proof communication between said movable camera and said casing, a feeder adapted to receive exposed sheets from the said camera in any displaced position thereof and to advance the said sheets tothe developing apparatus.

10. In an automatic developing and finishing machine for exposed sensitized material in cornbination with a movable camera, a casing for the said machine, an upper wall of said casing having a movable aperture therein in communication with the said camera, a feeder continuous with the said movable aperture, means to automatically and successively develop and finish sheets of exposed sensitized material advanced from the said feeder.

11. In an automatic developing and finishing machine for exposed sensitized material in combination with a movable camera, a casing for the said machine, an upper wall of said casing having a movable aperture therein in communication with the said camera, a feeder continuous with the said movable aperture, means to automatically and successively develop and finish sheets of exposed sensitized material advanced from the said feeder, means to dry the said finished sheets, and feeding means to the said drying means.

12. In an automatic developing and finishing machine for exposed sensitized material in combination with a movable camera, a casing for the said machine, an upper and inclined wall of the said casing having a movable aperture therein in communication with the said camera, a feeder continuous with the said movable aperture and being in parallelism with the said upper wall, and means to automatically and successively develop and finish sheets of exposed sensitized material advanced from the said feeder.

13. In a chamber for developing and finishing exposed sensitized material, an upper wall having a movable aperture, a camera disposed adjacent said aperture and movable therewith.

14. In combination: a casing adapted for the reception of exposed sensitized material, a movable upper wall on said casing provided with an aperture, a camera support having an orifice therein disposed with relation to said aperture so that a passage for said material is afforded through said aperture and said orifice, said support being movable jointly with said movable wall and movable independently of said casing.

15. In combination: a chamber ior'the reception of exposed sensitized material, an upper wall having a movable aperture, a camera support having an orifice therein disposed with relation to said aperture so that a passage for said material is afforded through said aperture and said orifice, said support being movable jointly with said aperture and being movable independently of said chamber.

16. In combination: a chamber for the reception of exposed sensitized material, said chamber being adapted for use with a movable camera, an upper wall in said chamber having a movable aperture, a support for said camera having an orifice therein disposed with relation to said aperture so that a passage for said material is afforded through said aperture and orifice, said support being movable jointly with said aperture and movable independently of said chamber, means to adjust the position of the camera independently of said support.

17. In a chamber for the receipt of exposed sensitized material, an upper wall having a movable aperture, said wall including a flexible lightproof curtain,

18. In a device of the class described: a casing adapted for the reception of exposed sensitized material, said casing having an opening therein, a movable camera support adapted for travel adjacent said opening, flexible means forming a light-proof connection between said casing and said movable support.

19. In a device of the class described: a casing adapted for the reception of exposed sensitized material, said casing having an opening therein, a movable camera support adapted for travel adjacent said opening, a curtain forming a light-proof connection between said casing and said movable support, and means to take up or release the curtain as the position of the support is varied.

20. In combination with a movable camera, a casing for the reception of exposed sensitized material ejected by said camera, movable supporting means for said camera forming a lightproof connection between the camera and the casing, and supported'by the said casing.

21. In combination with a movable camera, a casing having an inclined upper wall and adapted for the reception of exposed sensitized material ejected by said camera, and movable supporting means for said camera forming a light proof connection between the camera and the casing, and supported by the upper wall of said casing.

22. In a chamber for the reception of exposed sensitized material, an upper wall having a movable aperture, a camera disposed adjacent said aperture and movable therewith, and means to move said camera.

23. In a chamber for developing and finishing a plurality of exposed sheets of sensitized material, an upper wall having a movable aperture, a loading magazine for said sheets located at a fixed and predetermined position in said chamber, and feeding means to carry said sheets to said magazine.

24. In combination with a movable camera, a casing for a machine adapted to develop and finish a plurality of separate exposed sheets of sensitized material, an upper wall in said casing adapted by means of a movable aperture therein to receive sheets from said camera, accumulating means for the collection of said sheets located at a predetermined position in said casing, and a feeder to carry said sheets to said accumulating means after the sheets have been received by the casing from the camera, said feeder being char,- acterized by the fact that it is stationary as a unit with relation to, and continuous with the path of travel of the said movable aperture.

25. In combination: graphic developing machine'for treating a plurality of exposed sheets of sensitized material, accumulating means for collecting said sheets,

conveying means for transporting said sheets from the point of deposit thereof within the machine to the said accumulating means, a mechanism in the said developing machine and adapted to receive sheets at predetermined intervals, means to consecutively eject single sheets from said accumulating means into said mechanism at said. predetermined intervals.

SAMUEL HERSHBERG.

an automatic photo- 

